Speak Configuration - Complete Polk 5.1

ccfc1986

Hey All,

I currently finished my Polk Surround sound system by purchasing a pair of FXi A4's through the eBay store (great stuff on there - thanks Polk!). My system is currently the following:

AVR: Onkyo 6300 HTIB (http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S6300-7-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B003IT49LG)
Front: RTi A5's
Center: CSi A4
Rear: FXi A4's

I currently have the AVR configured with the following settings - and i would like the groups feedback on these please:

Subwoofer - Yes
Front: 40Hz
Center: 40Hz
Surround: 60Hz (not sure specifically on this one).

Left: 0 dB
Right: 0 dB
Center: +6 dB (hard to hear dialog at times, so have to boost this)
Surr Right: +2 dB
Surr Left: -2 dB
Subwoofer: +1 dB

The surrounds are different due to the placement to the primary listening position.

Do these settings make sense - I think i still need to tweak the Hz settings for the surrounds and possible the boost (as they replaced the default Onkyo ones which were quite rubbish).

Any feedback would be appreciate on the setup at all. Thanks!

rpf65

I would probably set all the cross overs to at least 60 Hz. I think 40 is a little low for the A5's. Think I have set at 80,ahd it I 90 for a while, but sub started to localize every once in a while. To me, in my room, the A5's start to struggle a little right around 50 Hz on certain movies. Maybe a little lower, but somewhere in the 40-50 Hz range.

Erik Tracy

I think the recommended default xover to start with is 80hz - esp for center and surrounds.

The fronts you should experiment to see what sounds best in your listening spot.

rooftop59

Are you using a sub? If not, set sub to NO and set everything to large. If you do have a sub I would experiment with 60 and 80. I would also get out a tape measure and download an spl app on your tablet or smartphone if you have one and double check the distance and db settings.

ccfc1986

Thanks for the input all.

I have set the crossover on the fronts, center and surrounds to 80Hz. I am currently using a sub, so i am in full 5.1 configuration.

In terms of a smartphone app to check the sound levels - can someone please explain what i 'should' expect - if there is any sort of tutorial or something?

If anyone else has any feedback i would appreciate it. Cheers!

rooftop59

What sub are you using? That could also make a difference. If its a small entry level sub I would at least experiment with running the mains large and the rest at 80 hz.

As for the spl meter, just turn it on, sit down in the main listening position, and turn the test-tones on. You want them all at the same level - say 70 db - and if they are off bump the db up or down to normalize them all to the same level. The tape measure is to check the distance. Sometimes those auto setups don't work so well, especially on entry level models. But I now see that you have Audessey 2EQ, so it should be pretty accurate, but I always like to double check.

ccfc1986

Rooftop - thanks for your input once more.

I am currently in the receiver settings, and can set the fronts to be 'Full Band' through 200Hz. I am assuming your statement above of 'set your mains to large' might fall into the 'full range' setting on my receiver? Recall, the fronts are RTI A5's.

As for the subwoofer i am using - it is the one that came with the system originally (check the link in my original post). Not great - but not horrible either for the price i paid 3+ years ago for the whole thing.

As for all the speakers showing the same level of 70dB while running the test-tones... i have downloaded an app and my average sound is 35-37dB in my room while in the sitting position with no sounds through the system (loud heat due to the severe cold outside!!!!). So when i run the sound test - i should get 70dB at my seating location from all speakers in the system - that way i know its the same from each speaker to this position -- concept makes sense!!!

Cheers once again!

rpf65

Full range or large setting means the AVR will send all sound info to those speakers. The complete freq spectrum. When you set the speakers to small, wherever the cross over freq is set, the AVR will start eliminating that freq and lower to the small setting speakers.

So if your A5's are set to large, and a 20Hz signal is sent out, both the sub and A5's will receive that signal. If you set the A5's to small at say 80 Hz, the AVR will send the 80 Hz and below signal to the sub, and gradually reduce the 80 Hz and below signal to the A5's, until it's eliminated. It will probably be totally eliminated somewhere around 65 Hz at an 80 HZ setting.

Most speakers in HT use should be set to small, and since the A5's are a 2 way speaker they should definitely be set to small, no matter their physical size.

Phasewolf

I would set the mains at 60hz and the rest to 80hz and see if it helps. Using the center at 40hz would over work the small amp trying to drive the center that low and would make it muddy sounding and force you to turn it up.